Personal
Date
of birth: November 7
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Height: 5'
5"
Place of birth:
San
Francisco, CA
Experience
Television
Friday Night - Host
Later - Host
Fit To Defend - Host/Exec Prod
Blackout Effect - News Anchor
1996 New Years Eve Special - Co-Host
Brains & Brawn - Principal
Crime Stop - Principal
Cartoon Spectacular - Principal
Theater
You Can't Take It With You - Alice
Picnic - Madge
Hot'L Baltimore - Girl
Films
Spiderman 2 Promo -Principal
Independent Visions - Principal
The Dash - Principal
Skills
Producing, Voiceover, Martial Arts, Horseback Riding, Snow Skiing,
Singing, Jazz Dance, Yoga, Tennis, Softball |
From
1994 to 2000, Rita hosted the weekly TV variety show "Friday
Night," where she co-hosted for two years with various talent
and then went solo in 1996. "Friday Night" was
cancelled by NBC on December 29, 2000, leaving the show at its
highest ratings in years. Some of Rita's duties on "Friday
Night" included screening and reviewing movies, interviewing
actors, comedians, musicians, and athletes; participating in
demonstrations and comedy sketches; and going on the road to
visit unique and exciting spots throughout the United States.
Some of the highlights of Rita's career at "Friday Night" included
surfing and jet boating with world renowned extremist Laird Hamilton, going for
an hour long, stunt filled flight with the Navy's Blue Angels (where even she
was surprised that she didn’t get sick!), operating NASA's flight simulators
with astronaut Captain Jim Wetherbee (crashing the Shuttle on landing), dancing
and singing with Boyz II Men, being face to face with many exotic animals, performing
live for NBC's New Year's Eve show from the top of Times Square, dancing in various
music videos, and working with some of the top comedians in comedy bits.
Interested in becoming a better actress herself, Rita was particularly thrilled
when she got the chance to sit down and talk with performers such as Jim Carrey,
Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicolas Cage, and Will Smith. Her biggest dream, however,
is to either work with or at least have one of these conversations with her idol
Mel Gibson.
Rita was born in San Francisco, California, and is the youngest of seven children.
All
this attention at home often led to her getting into trouble at school for
being
the class clown. She grew up with the hopes of being either a pilot, a
television producer, or an actress. Eventually she landed a job as an NBC page
which led to other work both in front of and behind the camera, including working
on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" during its first year.
In her spare time, Rita enjoys singing, karate, trying new sports, watching old
movies, hanging out with her three dogs, and of course, shopping! |
